First time overseas traveler

What appeals to you about each place? It's hard to say where to go without knowing the other person's interests! (And you've listed some pretty big places!)

How much time will you have? Scotland and London would be easy to do together. Italy and Spain are further apart.

From a cost perspective,, the U.K., with the cratering of the Pound in the last year against the $, is on sale.
I doubt if you will ever have another opportunity to get more "bag for the $" than in the next 6 to 9 months.
Personally, I have been urging all who are interested in going to the U.K. to do it this year. As an example, just last May, a hotel that was 100 Pounds ($200) is now about $150 if it is still 100 Pounds.

If your trip duration is 8 days, then really Day 1 and Day 8 are travel days which really leaves you with just 6 days to visit 2 countries. Keep in mind everytime you move around from country to country, or even city to city, you lose a signficant amount of time because you are checking into/out of a hotel, hanging around a train or bus station (or worse, an airport) waiting, time spent in transit, and then getting your bearings in the new destination.

I'd pick Scotland & London because you could easily spend 3 full days in London and then move up to Scotland, spend a night in a city like Edinburgh and travel a small section of the countryside with your remaining time. Italy and Spain involve simply too much travel time between the 2 countries. Although you could choose to spend the entire 8-10 days in just one of those countries if you are willing to save the other countries for a future trip.

Whatever you decide to do, be sure you fly "open jaw" (i.e., into one city/country and out of another city/country) so you are not wasting your time and money backtracking.

England would be an easier introduction to European travel especially if you are a worrier type. They speak the same language more or less. Your time is short. Fly into Edinburgh, take a train to York and finally London and fly home from London. Or the reverse. Take a couple day trips from Edinburgh and London and you will have filled your time nicely.

Since it is your first trip and you have no time to learn even survival foreign language phrases go for the English speaking alternative. Your trip will be far less stressful

I guess I missed where you said 8 - 10 days. I would definitely encourage you to go to London and Scotland. Fly into one and out of the other. For a first trip and on such short notice it will be an easier trip, both logistically and culturally.

It would also be helpful to know the time of year you anticipate traveling? What is the deadline tomorrow or are you considering booking a tour?

Frank's advice (London/York/Edinburgh) is right on the money. The only other alternative I'd offer is to stay put in London and do day trips by train. With only 8 days that really makes good sense.

Do it girl! They are all right. You need more time for Spain and Italy, but I think for your first overseas visit that will be easy. And the Pound/US $ is at the best it's been in ages, so that really makes the choice for you.....tell him next year it's Italy.........HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm jealous, I want to go too!

I like to cut logical swaths through Europe rather than hop from one area to another. It keeps the time lost to travel at a minimum.

I think two weeks is a pretty nice loop from London up through Northern Wales into Scotland, then down the Eastern Side of England. Eight days would be both scaled back and fast paced.

Since you have never been to Europe, you can make your first trip without the language barrier (sort of).

I don't see how you could see much of Italy or Spain in eight days. Eight might be a minimum to spend at three major sites in Spain (without adding Italy, which has much more to see).

Hi Eliza, since this is your first trip to Europe I would go with Schotland and London. I think you will feel more comfortable with them speaking English (but you may find it hard to understand)with only 8 to 10 days it would be easier to visit both places. I would suggest half the time in London and the other have in Scotland. There is so much to see and do in London that you won't be able to see all in the time period but you will be able to see a lot, check a travel book and read and see what you most like to see. You could use Edinburgh as a base and take one or two day trips. I'm sure you will love the UK.